Electric switch.



J. H. HALL.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION. FILED FEB. 24, 1913.

1,214,779. Patented Feb. 6,1917.

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JAY H. HALL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE ELECTRIC CONTROLLER AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed February 24, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAY H. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Tmprovements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to magnetically operated devices, and particularly to magnetically operated switches.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a switch having a single magnet or winding which has the characteristic of maintaining its contacts open, not only when its winding is not energized, but also when it is energized above a certain value. The contacts are closed when the current in the winding is below this value.

Another object is to cause the contacts to remain closed as long as the winding is energized.

Figures 1, 2, 3, and f of the accompanying drawings show side views of four of the many forms my invention may assume, parts of Figs. 1 and 4; being broken away.

Referring to the drawings, the frame A has mounted therein the winding B. The contacts E and F, which are adapted to be closed by the switch, are normally held open by means of a spring Gr. It will be readily understood that a pivoted counter weight to can be used in place of the spring G for this purpose, as shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1, the winding B produces a magnetic force between the upper end of the core C and the frame, tending to lift the plunger and the contact E, and also a force between the lower end of the plunger and the portion D of the frame, tending to lower the contact E. The lower portion of the frame is provided with the closed conductors P which dampen out the flux in the portion D of. the frame when current first flows through the winding. It is seen, therefore, that when the winding is first energized, the core 0 will be lifted, due to the attraction between its upper end and the frame, and the contacts E and F will be prevented from closing. Upon a reduction of current in the winding, the core C will drop, and in so doing will compress the spring G, and the magnetic force between the lower end. of the core and the portion Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

Serial No. 750,191.

of the frame will close the contacts E and F and hold them closed so long as current flows in the winding B.

The adjustable stop J is provided to limit the upward movement of the core C, in order to change the, value of current at which the core C will drop and close the switch contacts. The frame may be provided with projections M and N, of varying dimensions, to properly direct the flux when the core is raised and when the core has dropped to the closed position of the switch.

In Fig. 2, the frame A has the winding B, there being a portion A of the frame separated from the lower part of the frame by the non-magnetic pieces A An armature L, carrying the movable contact E, is pivoted to the portion A of the frame at L. The armature L is provided with an extension L which is preferably non-magnetic, and which is adaptedto be engaged by a movable lever K, which is pivoted to the frame at K. The contacts E and F are normally held separated by the spring G. When the winding is energized with a high current, the lever K is pulled down and the arma ture L is lifted, separating the contacts E and F to a greater extent. When the current in the winding has reduced to a predetermined value, the lever K will be released, and thearmaturc L will drop down, compressing the spring The portion L of the armature will now be strongly attracted to the frame A, and the switch will remain closed by the magnet and held closed until the current in the magnet is reduced to a very low value. The lever K is provided with an adjusting screw J, for varying the value at which the lever will be released and the switch contacts closed. The portion of the frame adjacent to L may be provided with a closed conductor P, which will dampen out the magnetic flux tending to operate the armature L, and give the lever K time to act in preventmg the closure of the switch. Although the closed conductor P at this point is desirable, it is not'essential for the proper operation of the switch.

In Fig. 3 the core C is lifted when an excess of current flows through the winding, the pin C engaging the armature L and preventing the closure of the contacts E and F. The pin C is preferably of nonmagnetic material. When the current in the windis reduced to a predetermined value, :he core C is retracted by the spring G alowing the ture L to compress the spring G and close the contacts E and F. lhe attraction at the portion of the armature L to the frame prevents the opening of the contacts until the current in the winding has fallen practically to zero. Diflerent positions of the adjusting screw J, which is mounted on a portion of the frame A will cause the switch to close at different values of current. The closed conductor 1 may be provided in this form, as in the others, for dampening out the flax in this part of the frame, and giving the core 0 time to act.

In the arrangement shown in all of the figures, it the current is not suiiiciently high to prevent the closure of the contacts, the members carrying the contacts will be moved by the magnet to close the contacts. In each of the fi ures of the drawing the movable magnetic member is moved away from the lined magnetic member if the current in the winding is above a certain value. This movement increases the reluctance between the said members and prevents the movable member from being drawn toward the other member upon a rush of current.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the switch arranged to control the starting of the motor M. When the switch S is closed, current flows through the switch S, the winding B, the resistance R, and the motor M. The current which now flows will cause the core C to rise and prevent the closure of the contacts. When the armature has increased its speed, and thereby increased its counter electro-motive force, the current in the motor circuit will decrease, and when it has reached a proper value for cutting out the resistance R, the core C will drop, and the contacts E and F will be closed. The contacts will then remain closed due to the attraction between the lower end of the core 0 and the portion D or" the switch frame, as before explained. The resistance R is new short circuited, and the motor is connected directly to the source of supply, the winding B remaining in circuit. It is thus seen that the switch contacts will be held closed as long as current is flowing in the motor circuit. To stop the motor, the switch S is opened, whereupon the winding B is de energized, and the spring G opens the contacts, placing everything in readiness for another operation.

It will be readily understood that a number of switches can be connected to operate consecutively in controlling a series of resistance sections for starting a motor and that the other forms of switches shown in the drawings can be used in such a system.

I claim 1. In an electro-magnetically operated device, a movable member, a second member separated therefrom, a winding arranged upon energization to generate iiu in both members, and means tending to prevent the movable member from moving toward the second member, the flux generated by the winding tending to move the movable member toward the second member but capable oi moving the movable member away from the second member when the winding is energized above predetermined value.

2. In an electromagnetically operated device, a member movable in two directions from its normal position, a second member separated from the movable member by a gap, a winding for producing across the gap a magnetic force for moving said member to a certain position, means for holding the said member away from the said certain position when the winding is not energized, and means acted upon by the flux produced by the winding for causing the movement of the said member still farther away from the said certain position and thereby lengthening the said gap when the current in the winding exceeds a certain value.

3. In an electro-magnetically-operated device, a member movable in opposite directions from its normal position, a winding for producing the actuating force for moving said member to a certain position, a second member moved by said winding, and means by which the second member prevents the movement of the movable member to the said certain position when the current in the winding exceeds a predetermined value.

4. In a switch, a magnetizing winding, a pair or" contacts, means normally acting to separate said contacts, a member movable in opposite directions from its normal position and attracted by the winding for closing the contacts, and a second member movable with respect to the first member and moved by the winding to prevent the closure of the contacts when the current in the winding eX- ceeds a certain value.

5. A controlling device for electric circuits, comprising a switch member movable in two directions from its normal position, and an electro-magnet for magnetically holding the same in closed position, means for holding said member in open position when the magnet is not ener ized, the magnet moving said member to a position of greater opening when the current is relatively high and permits it to be closed when the current falls to a predetermined value.

6. A controlling device for electric circuits comprising a switch member normally held with its contacts separated and movable in two directions from its normal position, and an electro-magnet for magneti cally holding the contacts in closed position, the said magnet causing the contacts to be more Widely separated than normal when 1 the current is relatively high and permits them to close when the current falls to a predetermined value.

7. In an electro-magnetically operated device, a frame of magnetic material, a movable member separated from a portion thereof by an air gap and movable in two directions, a magnetizing Winding for producing a flux for moving said member toward said frame portion, and means for-temporarily retarding the rise of flux in the air gap when current is admitted to the Winding, an excess current in the winding moving said member still farther away from said frame portion during the said retarding of the flux rise.

8. In an electromagnetic switch, switch contacts, a magnetic circuit comprising a stationary frame and a movable member, an energizing Winding therefor, a Working gap between the movable member and the stationary frame whereby the movable memher may be influenced by current in the JAY H. HALL,

Witnesses:

RUTH H. BENNETT, H. M. DIEMER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

